Viral Meningitis
Currently, there are no known treatments for viral meningitis.  However, most people overcome the disease in about a week.  The best way to make sure that you don’t become infected with viral meningitis is to be smart and sanitary.  Some viruses that cause meningitis are spread by person-to-person contact, while others are spread by insects and unsanitary conditions. 

Be sure to always wash your hands after going to the bathroom, touching food, sneezing, or coughing.  Also, wear bug spray!  Mosquitoes can carry meningitis, so be careful when you are around a lot of them.  Just because a person is exposed to viral meningitis does not mean it will cause the person to get sick, but it is important to keep yourself clean and healthy at all times. 

Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics.  However, it is very important that the treatment is started early.  The sooner a person is given antibiotics, the more likely he or she is to fully recover.  Antibiotics can be given intravenously (meaning they are pumped through the veins directly into the blood stream), or they can be taken orally (swallowed). 

There are also vaccines that help to prevent a person from developing bacterial meningitis.  Bacterial meningitis can be spread by coming into contact with the bodily fluid of an infected person (such as spit or phlegm). If a person around you has meningitis, it is important that you keep yourself healthy.  Antibiotics are often given to people who come into close contact with infected patients to prevent the bacteria from entering his or her healthy body.